DPD Tales

After our trip to the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota this summer, it took a few weeks to get everything coordinated to start the new agreed upon regimen of chemotherapy drugs - darzalex + polidimide + dexamethasone (DPD), but the first infusion got underway on 9/10, coincidentally the 11th anniversary of my multiple myeloma diagnosis. I had a severe reaction to the drugs during the first infusion, but we stopped, got me stabilized, persevered, and got the infusion completed without further incident in two days' time.

The second infusion the following week went well, but on Friday afternoon of that week, I had to leave our elders' retreat in Granbury, TX, to go to the local ER with an atrial fibrillation incident of the heart. They got me stabilized and released me that evening and we came home the following day.

I slept the weekend, and then Carol took me to our ER here in Bedford on Monday with shakes, fever and a variety of other symptoms. Turns out the chemo drugs had lowered my immune system and I had a serious infection. I spent the next full week in the hospital, mostly sleeping and getting treated, then another 10 days of mostly sleeping at home before returning to work part-time on Oct. 10. During this time, the chemotherapy was suspended. Oh yeah, that first night in the hospital included an ultra-late night surgery to remove a life-threatening blockage in the UT.

That said, we resumed round 3 of the DPD treatments on Wednesday of last week, 10/17. It went okay, but following the infusion, I developed severe pain in the lower legs which has left me virtually unable to walk, and I only get around with great difficulty.

Suffice it to say that these are powerful, powerful chemotherapy drugs. This is serious chemo, and I am not waltzing through it unscathed. Thus far, I do get to work a few hours each day, thanks to catching rides with friends, coworkers, and family. Some work can also be done at home. 
At this point, there has been no drop in the cancer due to the new chemo, but it is too soon to make a judgment at this time. 

God gives the grace each day to persevere and do what needs to be done. As always, your love, prayers, encouragements, and other expressions of concern are always appreciated.